Hay fever is the most common form of allergy which affects two in five Australians throughout the Spring and Summer seasons. Mainly affecting the eyes and nose, typical symptoms include sneezing, itchy ears, nose, eyes and throat, a runny or stuffy nose and red, watery eyes.

How symptoms can be relieved

Try to identify what triggers your hay fever and avoid these as much as possible

Keep windows closed during the pollen season

Splash eyes with cold water at regular intervals to flush out pollen

Make use of air conditioning and/or air filtering systems in your house and car

Anti-histamine medications help control sneezing and itching and assist in soothing the eyes from irritation

Eye-drops relieve itchy, swollen or watery eyes

Nasal sprays help reduce the inflammation in the nose which is the cause of nasal blockage and other symptoms.

Hay fever and contact lenses

If you suffer from hay fever and are a contact lens wearer, you may not be very comfortable wearing them during hay fever season. Useful tips include:

Avoid wearing contact lenses when outside conditions are hot, dry and dusty during hay fever season, or when mowing the lawn

Wearing sunglasses in addition to contact lenses may help protect your eyes from dust and pollen circulating in the air

When the pollen count is very high, switch to wearing glasses rather than contact lenses to avoid irritation

Consider using daily contact lenses; replacing them daily reduces the chance of protein build up that can lead to sore, irritated eyes

Although hay fever can have a large effect on your day to day life, there is relief available. Taking simple precautions and utilising products available on the market to assist with hay fever symptoms can help limit your discomfort and help you enjoy the most out of every day.